The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-08-31
Is Fashion Folly!

My attention was called last week to
the article entitled " Fashions Folly"
by Jennie June, and being very COM
mon-place girl myself, who likes g style"
and "pretty things" 1 cannot resist
the temptation of saying few words
on the other side. Holland says he be-
lieves that God lores Shakers, but does
not believe he odmires them at all, and
wonders how any one with common
sense could see anything to admire in
the untidily and untastily dressed
Shaker women. l agree with Holland
in saying that there is no reason why
woman should dress herself " like
hitching-post," no matter what station
in life she may occupy. In short, l be-
lieve in fashion, and that it does far
more good than hurt, even among
women. OF course fashion, as well as
anything else, when carried to excess
is more of curse than a blessing.
Some people may think about it so
much that it will become a mania with
them, but that is no reason why the
general principle is not all right. Some
people go crazy over religion, but that
is no reason why religion in a mod
crate degree is not good for people.
And it should be part of every ones
religion to dress well. Cleanliness
is akin to godliness " and proper dress
is akin to cleanliness. BY this l do
not mean to dress in silks and satins
or expensive clothing; but every woman
should have her dress, however poor
the material, neatly and becomingly
made, and made in the latest fashion.
Beecher said that if his wife never
had dress of better material than
print it should be made in " style :"
and should be becoming and tasty.
/ always did like Beecher, but
could have taken off my hat and
given three rousing cheers for him
when he said that, if it had been the
fashion for girls to express their ad-
miration in that way. There is nothing
hurtful or vulgar" about this " popu-
lar current" unless it is carried TO a
ridiculous extreme, and it has an
elevating rather than demoralizing in
tluence. We have the same general
principles of government and custom
for all the people of the United States,
and the people who obey these laws
have more respect for each other than
they would have for some citizens who,
in defiance of law and order, make
themselves obnoxious by disobeying
such laws and customs as they happen
to consider foolish or unjust. So a
certain per cent of the people set the
STYLE" as it is called, and those who
have sufficient respect for their fellow
beings follow it; and there is no good
reason why one woman should wear a
Mother Hubbard wrapper to church
just for the sake of showing her indie,
pendence and defiance of the laws of
fashion and custom, when the rest OF
the congregation are dressed properly
Now just word about ''pretty things
for the home. Every woman's heart
delights in them, and l cannot believe
that Jennie san exception. Or, Jennie
do you wish, as the little girl did, thai
when you are born again you might be
born boy? l don't; l haven't any
patience with girls that want to be boys
had most rather be an old maid thar
boy, and you know that is saying {
good deal. But to return to our subject
l think we ought to have just as many
pretty and attractive things in our home